The Folloban will not reopen on Tuesday, as planned. Power problems mean the rink can only open on Sunday January 1st at the earliest.
Trains started running on the new line on 11 December, and it was officially opened the following day. It was due to close as early as December 20 due to a fire in a power plant at the ski resort. On Christmas Eve, another fire broke out in the same house.
According to the plan, the rink was supposed to reopen on December 27, but this has been postponed, Bane-Nor publicist Britt-Johanne Wang confirms to NTB.
Looking for a reason
In a press release, Bane Nor writes that Follobanen must be closed until after New Year’s.
– There are problems with electricity in the new building. We continually repair damage to the facility, but unfortunately we have so far been unable to find the underlying cause of the facility’s overheating, explains Stine Undrum, executive vice president of development at Bane Nor.
At the same time, he apologizes to the travellers.
– It concerns the passengers and we are terribly sorry that it concerns them, says Undrum.
The Follobanen consists of the longest railway tunnel in the Nordic region. The extensive project has experienced several delays and budget gaps, with a final price tag of NOK 36.8 billion.
Østfoldbanen takes over
While the Follobanen is closed, all traffic must pass through the old Østfoldbanen.
– Several departures have been canceled and you have to expect around 11 minutes extra travel time on the R21 and RE20 trains that were supposed to travel through the Follobanen. Bane Nor plans to open on Sunday, Jan. 1 at the earliest, he writes You to its customers.
They refer to other trains on every other departure between Lysaker and Ski and between Oslo and Moss, and on all departures between Oslo and Ski.
